How to reference a row/column definition in Grid.Row/Grid.Column?

Question

This may be obvious... How do I reference XAML elements later in that same XAML file?

Example:

Answer 1

This, unfortunately, doesn't work.

The attached properties in question (ie: Grid.Row) are used by grid to handle their own layout, and the way it's designed, you have to put in the number.

Unfortunately, changing the numbers when inserting a row is pretty common in XAML development. One option - You can put in extra "zero height" rows that are unused, and later use them, if you know you're going to be adding rows.

Answer 2

For the lulz:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Markup;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows;

namespace Test.MarkupExtensions
{
    class GridDefinitionExtension : MarkupExtension
    {
        public string Name { get; set; }

        public GridDefinitionExtension(string name)
        {
            Name = name;
        }

        public override object ProvideValue(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
        {
            var refExt = new Reference(Name);
            var definition = refExt.ProvideValue(serviceProvider);
            if (definition is DefinitionBase)
            {
                var grid = (definition as FrameworkContentElement).Parent as Grid;
                if (definition is RowDefinition)
                {
                    return grid.RowDefinitions.IndexOf(definition as RowDefinition);
                }
                else
                {
                    return grid.ColumnDefinitions.IndexOf(definition as ColumnDefinition);
                }
            }
            else
            {
                throw new Exception("Found object is neither a RowDefinition nor a ColumnDefinition");
            }
        }
    }
}

<Grid Width="200" Height="200"
      xmlns:me="clr-namespace:Test.MarkupExtensions">
    <Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <RowDefinition Name="row1" />
        <RowDefinition Name="row2" />
    </Grid.RowDefinitions>
    <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <ColumnDefinition Name="col1" />
        <ColumnDefinition Name="col2" />
    </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
    <Border Background="Lime" Grid.Row="{me:GridDefinition row1}" Grid.Column="{me:GridDefinition col1}" />
    <Border Background="Red" Grid.Row="{me:GridDefinition row2}" Grid.Column="{me:GridDefinition col1}" />
    <Border Background="Yellow" Grid.Row="{me:GridDefinition row1}" Grid.Column="{me:GridDefinition col2}" />
    <Border Background="Blue" Grid.Row="{me:GridDefinition row2}" Grid.Column="{me:GridDefinition col2}" />
</Grid>